11/17/2016 7:13 AM PST

LeBron James Gives $2.5 to Muhammad Ali Exhibit

Talk about GREAT -- LeBron James is donating $2.5 MILLION to help fund a Muhammad Ali exhibit at the Smithsonian in D.C.

The exhibit -- titled, "Muhammad Ali: A Force for Change" -- will showcase how the boxing legend used his role as a world famous athlete to make real change to society.

LeBron isn't the only NBA superstar to donate to the Ali project -- Michael Jordan kicked in $5 MILLION and Magic Johnson and his family added another $1 mil.

So, what compelled Bron to donate?

"Muhammad Ali is such a cornerstone of me as an athlete because of what he represented not only in the ring as a champion but more outside the ring — what he stood for, what he spoke for, his demeanor," LeBron told USA TODAY Sports.

"I think of him every day. Without his passion and goals and morals, I don’t know if I’d be sitting here today talking to you about it."

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